Easter cake is a traditional sweet dish that is prepared in different countries during the celebration of Easter. Each culture has its own unique recipe for this dessert.


1. Great Britain

Great Britain

The UK also has its own traditional Easter cake recipe called "Simnel Cake". It is considered one of the oldest English desserts, also known as Easter cake. This cake is made from a sweet dough that contains raisins, candied fruits , pieces of orange and lemon, as well as spices: cinnamon and nutmeg. In the center of the cake is an almond filling. After baking, the Easter cake is decorated with marzipan balls, which symbolize the 12 apostles.

To prepare Simnel Cake, you first need to prepare a dough from flour, sugar, butter, eggs, raisins, candied fruits, orange and lemon zest, and spices. Then the dough is divided into two parts, one of which is used to create the base of the cake, and the other is used to create the almond filling. To prepare the filling, finely chop the almonds, add the egg, sugar and lemon zest, mix everything well. After baking, the filling is placed in the middle of the cake. The surface is decorated with marzipan balls. Each has its own color, which corresponds to a particular apostle.

2. Poland

Poland

The Polish Easter cake is called "Babka wielkanocna". This pastry has a more complex recipe that includes milk, butter, eggs, salt, sugar, flour and yeast. To improve the taste, raisins, candied fruit, orange zest and vanilla are added to the dough. After baking, the Easter cake is decorated with icing and red eggs. For Babka wielkanocna, you first need to make a yeast dough from flour, milk, eggs, butter, sugar and yeast.Then add raisins, candied fruit, orange zest and vanilla, mix everything thoroughly. The dough is left to rise for about 1-2 hours in a warm place. Then a large round cake is formed , which is laid out on a baking sheet and put in the oven for 45-60 minutes. After baking, decorate with icing, which can be prepared from powdered sugar and water.

3. Portugal

Portugal

The Portuguese Easter cake is called Folar da Páscoa. This dessert is made from a sweet dough that contains flour, eggs, milk, sugar, salt, butter and yeast. Nutmeg, anise and raisins are also added to the dough. After baking, the Easter cake is decorated with red eggs and mint. For Folar da Páscoa, a yeast dough is first made from flour, eggs, milk, butter, sugar, and yeast. Add nutmeg, anise and raisins, mix and leave the dough for about 1-2 hours to rise in a warm place. Then a round bun is formed, spread on a baking sheet and put in the oven for 30-40 minutes. 

4. Italy

Italy

Italian Easter cake "Colomba Pasquale" is a sweet and fragrant dish that is prepared for Easter.It usually contains raisins, candied fruits, orange peel and vanilla, which give it a unique taste.To prepare an Italian Easter cake, you will need flour, eggs, yeast, sugar, milk and butter. First, flour is mixed with yeast and sugar, then eggs and milk are added and the dough is kneaded . Raisins, candied fruit, orange zest and vanilla are added to the dough and kneaded again. Leave for 2-3 hours to rise, then put it in a mold and bake in the oven for about 40 minutes. After baking, the Easter cake is removed from the mold and allowed to cool. After that, the Easter cake is decorated with icing and sprinkled with candied fruits.

5. Greece

Greece

The Greek Easter cake called " τσουρέκι " is also a traditional Easter dish. It has a denser texture than Italian and contains fragrant mahlebi, as well as vanillin and mastic. Makhlebi are the kernels of wild-growing cherries, ground into powder, which have an original flavor of bitter almonds, cherries and a little smell of roses. Masticha is the resin of the pistachio trees of the island of Chios. To make Greek Easter bread, you will need flour, eggs, yeast, milk, sugar and butter, as well as makhlebi and mastic. First, flour is mixed with yeast and sugar, then eggs and milk are added and the dough is kneaded. Add makhlebi and mastic, knead the dough again. Leave the dough for 2-3 hours to rise, then put it in a mold and bake in the oven for about 50 minutes. Greek Easter cake can be decorated with honey and almonds.

6. France

France

The French Easter cake, called "pain de Pâques", differs from the Italian and Greek Easter cakes in its delicate texture and sweeter taste. It contains a lot of eggs, butter and sugar, as well as raisins and orange zest.To prepare a French Easter cake, you will need flour, eggs, sugar, milk, yeast, butter and raisins. First, flour is mixed with yeast and sugar, then eggs and milk are added, and the dough is kneaded. Butter, raisins and orange zest are added to the dough and kneaded again. Leave for 2-3 hours to rise, then spread in a mold and bake in the oven for about 60 minutes. French Easter cake can be decorated with icing and sprinkled with raisins.